Arma Hobby 70011 - 1:72 TS-11 Iskra R Novax - Expert Set

Plastic model kit of the Polish TS-11 Iskra R Novax reconnaissance aircraft in 1:72 scale – Expert Set

An unusual nose with a radome changed the Iskra's silhouette beyond recognition. That was the Iskra R Novax – a small series of reconnaissance machines of Polish Naval Aviation, converted at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s and fitted with a Bendix King RDS-81 weather radar and a GPS receiver. Arma Hobby 70011 reproduces it in 1:72 scale as an Expert Set.

The key element of the kit is the resin Novax nose with its radome – the detail that defines the character of the whole model. The plastic sprues and clear sprue are supplemented by photo-etched parts for the interior with instrument dials printed on clear film, and self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheels.

The Cartograf decals cover four aircraft connected with Siemirowice: Iskra R Novax machines of the 7th Naval Special Aviation Regiment from 1994 and 1993, an Iskra R Novax of the 3rd Naval Aviation Squadron from 1997, and a TS-11 Iskra bis DF of the 7th Naval Special Aviation Regiment from 1994 – so both silhouettes are covered in a single box.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues
• Clear sprue
• Resin parts: Novax nose with radome
• Photo-etched parts for the interior with instrument dials on clear film
• Self-adhesive masks for the canopy and wheels
• Cartograf decals for four marking options
• Assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70011
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled length: approx. 155 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 140 mm
• Skill level: intermediate/advanced (resin part, small photo-etched details)

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

The resin nose has to be cut from its casting block, its mating surface levelled and the part attached with cyanoacrylate glue – it is worth taking time over a precise fit to the fuselage, since this piece defines the model's silhouette. Resin parts are best washed in lukewarm water with detergent before painting to remove any release agent residue. We suggest painting and finishing the cockpits before closing the fuselage halves; the clear film instrument dials combined with the photo-etched parts produce a very convincing instrument panel.

The Naval Aviation aircraft from Siemirowice wore the finish typical of the Iskra – silver aluminium with orange conspicuity panels – complemented by naval aviation markings. We recommend applying the decals over gloss varnish to limit silvering, and finishing the model with satin varnish. The supplied self-adhesive masks noticeably shorten the time needed to prepare the glazing for painting.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched and resin parts
• Precision modelling tweezers for small parts
• Brushes in various sizes, optionally an airbrush
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decalling and satin varnish for the final finish
• Panel line wash to emphasise detail

About the aircraft – TS-11 Iskra R Novax:

The TS-11 Iskra was the first Polish jet aircraft – a design created at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s, first flown in 1960 and produced at Mielec. For decades it remained the standard training aircraft of Polish military aviation, and as the mount of the "Biało-Czerwone Iskry" aerobatic team it became one of its emblems. Power came from the Polish WSK SO-3 turbojet, a 23 mm cannon was fitted in the nose, and four underwing hardpoints allowed bombs or rocket pods to be carried. Part of the production run was exported to India.

The Iskra R was a small series of reconnaissance machines of Polish Naval Aviation, converted at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s. The aircraft received a Bendix King RDS-81 weather radar and a GPS receiver, which broadened their capabilities on flights over the sea. Their distinctive external feature is the reworked nose with a radome, clearly different from the standard Iskra silhouette.

The Iskra R aircraft served with Naval Aviation units at Siemirowice – first with the 7th Naval Special Aviation Regiment and later with the 3rd Aviation Squadron. Their unusual shape and small numbers make them one of the more interesting episodes in the history of the Polish Iskra.

Original aircraft specifications (TS-11 Iskra R Novax):

• Length: 11.15 m (standard Iskra airframe; the R version has a rebuilt nose)
• Wingspan: 10.06 m
• Crew: 2 in tandem
• Powerplant: WSK SO-3 turbojet of approx. 9.81 kN thrust
• Special equipment: Bendix King RDS-81 weather radar in a nose radome, GPS receiver
• Conversion: turn of the 1980s and 1990s, a small series of Naval Aviation aircraft
• Operator: Polish Naval Aviation, Siemirowice
• First flight of the TS-11 prototype: 1960
• Original manufacturer: WSK PZL-Mielec

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Arma Hobby is a Polish manufacturer of plastic model kits based in Warsaw, active on the market since 2016. The brand grew out of the earlier Attack Squadron, which specialised in resin accessories for aircraft models. Design work and tool making are carried out in Poland, using computer-aided design and scanning of surviving airframes. The hallmark of the brand's kits is very fine surface reproduction – rivets and panel lines – together with thin trailing edges. These are complemented by carefully made glazing and high-quality decals. The catalogue covers 1:72 and 1:48 scales, with particular emphasis on Polish aviation – the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra – as well as Allied aircraft of the Second World War. Arma Hobby kits have repeatedly been recognised in industry awards, including the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg toy fair. The company also continues to develop the idea of supplementing its kits with 3D-printed parts and making print-at-home files available.